Black Bear Mountain – A Peak with a Steep Side and a Gentle Side

Elevation: 2448 ft

Ascent: 728 ft

Distance: 2.25 or 3.1miles

Location: Route 28 west of Eagle Bay.

There are two routes up Black Bear, the shorter (2.1 miles) and STEEPER route and the longer (3.1 miles) and MUDDIER route.  The first 0.7 mile section of the trail is common to both routes and has generally very good footing and very little ascent.  The shorter route which for most of the way is a very good trail that ascends maybe a hundred feet before leveling out and then later ascending moderately until it is right up against the summit cone of Black Bear.  At that point, the trail climbs a cliff that was at least 12 feet high which may be covered with moisture seeping out of the mountain. 

There is a longer route back down which is less steep.  The trail back across the base of the mountain is a nice walk in the woods, but the last maybe quarter mile before getting back to the junction with the shorter route can be very muddy.  This is because

water situated between the bottom of the shallow soil layer and the base rock drains down the hill side slowly and collects at any flat or shallow spot that it encounters.  A wide trail built near the base of the hill is one spot that it collects and drains away very slowly.  That is the nature of this section of the trail. 

MORE

NOTE: For a more complete description of the trail, please see ADK's guide to ADIRONDACK TRAILS - West-Central Region, pp 95-100.

Have a great hike!
Bob Goodwin